Maldon's lead cut again

By Peter Butcher

THE race is on for the Ryman North title after Grays cut Maldon’s lead to eight points, and with three games in hand, after their 3-1 home win over Waltham Forest yesterday (Saturday).

Forest made them work hard and it took an 88th-minute penalty by Jack West, after a foul on Jeff Hammond, to secure victory. The rest of the scoring had come in the first 20 minutes, with Jack Leachman equalising for Forest in between strikes by Joe Sweeney and Luke Marshall.

Maldon, who were 13 points ahead after the previous Saturday’s games, saw their lead cut to single figures as they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Aveley, who were denied victory by the superb form of Maldon keeper Joe Wright (pictured).

Millers slipped back to fifth place, though with a comfortable cushion over the rest of the field, while Heybridge climbed two places to third with a 2-0 win at Harlow.

The home side started well but were beaten by two goals in four minutes soon after the hour, with Ben Newson’s opener quickly followed by Grant Cooper’s header.

Thamesmead dropped to fourth after their ten-match winning run ended with a 1-0 home defeat by sixth-placed Witham. Sam Taylor’s early goal settled it thanks to a determined defensive display.

Soham stayed seventh with a 3-1 win at Ilford, who remain at the foot of the table. It might have been different: Warren Mfula hit a post with a shot that would have levelled the scores just before Michael Simpson netted Soham’s third in the 75th minute.

Luke Stanley had given them an early lead which was wiped out by Daniel Crowie at the start of the second half. But in the 55th minute a foul by Paul Oshin earned him a second yellow card and gave Soham a penalty which Buster Harradine netted.

So Ilford remained a point behind neighbours Redbridge, who were crushed 5-0 at home by Romford. The Motormen had won 2-1 at Romford on opening day but have gathered only three victories since then and their home record is a grisly one: four points from 13 games with goal figures of 8-42.

Kurt Smith’s 20-yarder put Romford ahead on 25 minutes. Tom Richardson won, and converted, a penalty three minutes later and scored again before half-time. The hosts did better in the second half but Tyler Christian-Law completed the rout with two goals in a minute just before the final whistle.

Wroxham had the better chances in their 0-0 home draw with Potters Bar and it looked likely to end goalless at Cheshunt, as well, but Corey Whitely scored six minutes from time to see off Sudbury.

It was all square at Tilbury, where Sam West volleyed Brentwood into the lead less than a minute after half-time and Tom Wraight made it 1-1 with a solo strike ten minutes from the end.

The outcome was the same at Waltham Abbey, where James Peagram put the home side ahead soon after half-time and the bar denied Kieran Ogunkoya a rapid second. So a 30-yard drive by James Lawrence in the 74th minute earned Chatham a point.

Needham Market, having registered their first home win of the season at the 15th attempt, made it two in a row by beating Ware 2-0.

Duane Wright gave them the lead six minutes before half-time but was promptly sent off for comments to the Ware bench. The visitors were unable to profit from their extra man, however, and Bradley Barber clinched it in added time.

Where next?

Another stalemate on Sunday GOALS again proved elusive at Cray today (Sunday), where Leiston were the visitors in a game that became the fourth 0-0 draw of the Ryman Premier weekend and the ninth in all three divisions.
Martin double eases Ware's worries WARE eased their Ryman North relegation fears tonight (Thursday) with a 3-2 home win over Waltham Abbey. They are now eight points clear of bottom club Ilford.

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